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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Korean Heritage

4 iconic hanok K-drama fans must visit in May

As May ushers in the full bloom of spring, there is no better time to rediscover hanok, Korea’s traditional architecture. At the heart of these structures lies the profound philosophy of "chagyeong" — the art of "borrowing" the surrounding scenery to be in perfect harmony with the natural world. In a hanok, windows and doors are more than mere openings — they serve as living frames that capture the poetic transition of the seasons, inviting the mountains, wind and light to become part of home. Transcending their roles as backdrops for Korea’s most celebrated films and dramas, these four estates serve as tranquil sanctuaries for the soul. They invite visitors to step beyond the screen, offering a rare opportunity to pause, breathe and rediscover the enduring grace of Korean heritage. 1. Seonungak: Regal elegance at foot of Mount Bukhan Nestled deep in the valleys of Ui-dong, Seonungak is a grand estate where the rugged peaks of Bukhansan National Park serve as a breathtaking natural backdrop. Originally built in 1967 as an exclusive social club by Hyundai founder Chung Ju-young, i

May 5, 2026By Park Jin-hai
4 iconic hanok K-drama fans must visit in May
Shows & Dramas

'Perfect Crown' costume designer reimages hanbok as 'quiet luxury'

Cho Sang-kyung is more than just a costume designer. She is a visual storyteller whose threads weave together the very fabric of Korean films and dramas. From the gritty aesthetics of Park Chan-wook’s "Oldboy" (2003) and the haunting elegance of "The Handmaiden" (2016) to the global phenomenon "Squid Game" (2021-2025), Cho has defined the "look" of K-content for over two decades. Known for her meticulous research and bold reinterpretations, she possesses a rare ability to honor tradition while breaking its boundaries. In her recent project, "Perfect Crown," the designer moves beyond historical reproduction to showcase hanbok as a versatile, high-fashion statement. By seamlessly blending traditional silhouettes with contemporary sensibilities, she invites global audiences to see hanbok not just as a costume, but as a masterpiece of enduring elegance. Below is an excerpt from the interview with Cho. Q. I-an’s first appearance in "cheollik" (military robes) was striking. Why did you choose that specific garment for his introduction, and what impression did you want to leave on the audie

May 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'Perfect Crown' costume designer reimages hanbok as 'quiet luxury'
Travel & Food

Yumi in Busan: Guide to Kim Go-eun’s dreamy filming locations

In the popular tvN original series "Yumi’s Cells" Season 3, starring Kim Go-eun, the story delicately follows the protagonist’s emotional journey against the backdrop of Busan — ranging from seaside resorts and vintage bookstore alleys to pastel-hued, charming villages. The series, following Yumi (Kim), a successful author whose dormant romantic instincts are reawakened by the arrival of her editor Soon-rok (Kim Jae-won), portrays Busan as a warm travel destination that feels both exotic and nostalgic with the coziness of old-world spaces. If scenes from the drama keep playing in your head, why not head to the very spots that made your heart flutter? Here is a look at the Busan travel destinations that awakened Yumi's interest in love. Ananti at Busan Cove The setting for the group's workshop serves as the pivotal stage where Yumi and Soon-rok build their "slow-burn" connection, heightening their subtle chemistry before the sparks officially fly. The resort where they stay immediately caught viewers' eyes with its exotic vistas and spacious suites. In one poignant scene, Yumi watche

May 1, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Yumi in Busan: Guide to Kim Go-eun’s dreamy filming locations
Shows & Dramas

Park Bo-young breaks from 'honest' image in thriller 'Gold Land'

What choices would people make if they suddenly came into possession of 150 billion won ($102 million) worth of gold bars? The upcoming Disney+ original series "Gold Land" seeks to answer that question. Written by Hwang Jo-yoon — the screenwriter behind Park Chan-wook’s 2003 masterpiece "Oldboy" — the series is a survival thriller that follows Hee-ju (Park Bo-young), a young woman who finds herself embroiled in a chaotic web of greed and betrayal after discovering a massive stash of smuggled gold, fighting to keep the fortune for herself. Beyond the heart-pounding suspense, the series promises a deep dive into the complexities of human nature and the fragility of relationships. Park takes on her first role in a crime series as a customs officer whose desires are awakened by the accidental discovery. "I was looking for a genre challenge," Park said during a press conference at Conrad Seoul, Monday. "The director noted that most people see me as the type of person who would return found gold. He suggested that seeing someone with that 'honest' image make the opposite choice would trig

Apr 27, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Park Bo-young breaks from 'honest' image in thriller 'Gold Land'
Shows & Dramas

Original TV scripts spark ‘reverse’ expansion into webtoons, novels

The long-standing success formula for Korean entertainment is undergoing a dramatic pivot as original television screenplays increasingly serve as the foundation for new webtoons and web novels, flipping the industry's traditional "webtoon-to-screen" equation. For years, the K-drama industry relied on popular digital comics and fiction as guaranteed blueprints for televised hits, but recent breakout successes are reversing this trajectory. The first half of 2026 has seen a surge in original scripts — many by rookie writers — that are expanding "backward" into the digital space after proving their commercial viability on screen. This shift is fueled by a new business model known as "reverse expansion," where the drama acts as the source intellectual property (IP) rather than the end product. Leading the trend is MBC drama "Perfect Crown," starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, and Netflix series "The Art of Sarah." Despite being penned by rookie writers, these projects have secured substantial production budgets and star-studded casts, signaling a significant shift in how the industry values

Apr 27, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Original TV scripts spark ‘reverse’ expansion into webtoons, novels
Trends

Busan public bath becomes ‘digital detox’ haven for younger generation

BUSAN — On a recent Saturday, in the quiet residential district of Namsan-dong, Busan, a group of young women gathered at Geumsaemtang, a neighborhood bathhouse which was once dismissed as a fading relic of the past. Casually dressed, the women moved from one large bathtub to another, then to a steam sauna. No one spoke, instead focusing on their individual relaxation. These women are part of a growing number of young Koreans taking part in "accompanied bathing" as means of relaxation and "digital detox" that temporarily but completely disconnects people from the pressures of work and social media. Geumsaemtang is leading the trend. Built in 1995, this classic bathhouse features windows emblazoned with the slogan "Bathing is a washing machine for the soul," while inside whimsical characters and quotes about bathing are scattered throughout the space. A new cultural phenomenon, "accompanied bathing" sees individuals meeting through online communities to visit bathhouses together. A key rule for these gatherings is anonymity — participants refrain from exchanging personal details to en

Apr 24, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Busan public bath becomes ‘digital detox’ haven for younger generation
Others

Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits

Comedian Lee Su-ji has turned Korean social absurdities into viral satire on YouTube's “Hot Issue Ji” and Coupang Play's “SNL Korea.” Her recent sketches target overbearing parents and online misinformation, blending sharp humor with painful realism. One standout episode, titled “Kindergarten Teacher Lee Min-ji’s Never-Ending 24 Hours [Human Documentary: Real Extreme Jobs],” shows Lee as an overworked teacher with her face marked by heavy dark circles from exhaustion but still trying to keep her composure under relentless pressure from parents. Her attempts to stay upbeat in the face of increasingly absurd demands are both funny and uncomfortably relatable. In the video, Lee's character starts her day at 4 a.m. and attempts to accommodate a barrage of unreasonable requests: assigning children to classes based on their MBTI personality types, or using eucalyptus-infused plant-based wipes during bathroom breaks for the kids. When a parent questions her personal life after spotting her in Seoul’s Apgujeong, she hits a breaking point — her eardrum seemingly bursts — yet

Apr 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits
Travel & Food

Guide to Seoul’s top 5 rice cake spots

For Koreans, “tteok” (rice cakes) are more than a snack — they’re edible markers of life’s most meaningful moments. From the milky-white “tteokguk” (rice cake soup) served on New Year’s Day to symbolize long life, to the half-moon “songpyeon” shared during the harvest festival of Chuseok as a wish for good fortune, these simple rice confections for long sat at the heart of Korean celebration and memory. Once seen as an “acquired flavor” in Western markets for its distinct chewiness and elasticity, tteok is now winning fans across North America and Europe — propelled by the unstoppable rise of the K-wave. Last month, Seoul-based American TikToker Carson Allen posted a “mukbang (eating broadcast) feast” video featuring Korean rice cakes. Sampling everything from airy “sul-tteok,” rice cakes made with fermented rice wine, to rich, cream-filled modern takes, her clip drew 134,000 likes and hundreds of intrigued comments. Around the same time, a viral video of Korean-American creator Elizabeth biting into “kkul-tteok,” honey-filled rice cakes racked up 1

Apr 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Guide to Seoul’s top 5 rice cake spots
Shows & Dramas

'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com

Ahn Hyo-seop, who shot to global fame as the voice of Jinu in the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," is returning to the small screen as a perfectionist farmer. In SBS’s new romantic comedy "Sold Out on You," Ahn plays Matthew Lee, a genius cosmetic researcher and passionate mushroom farmer who becomes entangled day and night with Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin), a “sell-out queen” home-shopping host. Ahn, who attended the 98th Academy Awards last month after "KPop Demon Hunters" took home two trophies, said, “I actually finished all my dubbing work before shooting this drama, so I had some breathing room," during a press conference for the drama at SBS headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. “After working on emotionally heavy projects that made me think deeply about life, reading this script felt very healing. There’s no villain here — just an honest story about everyday life,” he said. He said he threw himself into learning to drive a tractor. “I wanted to soak in the countryside and really live the life of a farmer.” Director Ahn Jong-yeon described the series

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com
Korean Heritage

Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee comes to Busan this July, marking Korea's first time hosting the premier global forum on heritage preservation. The milestone gathering is anticipated to cement the nation's leadership in protecting and inscribing culturally and historically important sites, while spotlighting its cultural diplomacy on the world stage. This annual session, running from the opening ceremony on July 19 to its closing on July 29 at the BEXCO convention center, will be the first hosted by Korea in its 38 years with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Some 3,000 delegates from 196 countries will converge under one roof to decide which iconic sites will be selected. Korea, serving a four-year term as chair country for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee through 2027, will have a special opportunity to shine as host. "Korea stepping up as the World Heritage Committee's chair nation and a core player leading on preservation and interpretation carries huge weight for our global leadership," Huh Min, chief of Korea Heritage Service (KHS), said at a recent press conferenc

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears
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